Actuating mechanism



Sept. 5, 1939. A. LANGSNER ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1958INVENTOR. Bm M /Q/@a/@j z y ATTORNEY5- Patented Sept. 5, 1.939

UNITED STATES 2,171,755 ACTUATIN G MECHAN-ISM Adolph Langsner, Chicago,IIL,

Eugene Dietzgen Co., tion of Delaware Application March 14,

10 Claims.

My invention relates in general to precision devices, more particularly,measuring and indieating istruments, and has special reference toindicating devices of the character forming a part 5);; of surveyinginstruments.

An important object of the invention is to provide an instrument havingenclosed mechanism, including means for adjusting the mechanism fromoutside of the enclosure whereby to pro- 10" tect the same fromdeterioration as a result of exposure to foreign matter, such as dustand moisture.

Another important objectV is to provide adjusting means comprisingelements forming a unit '5i assembly and operable to perform a pluralityof adjustments -upon the enclosed mechanism.

Another important object is to provide a directional indicator, such asa compass, enclosed in a casing for the exclusion of foreign matter 50;from the operating parts of the device, and including cooperatively anassembly unit on the 'compass case and operablef from outside of thecase to accomplish a plurality of adjustments upon the'enclosed parts,

51. for example, the release of a pivoted indicator and the adjustmentof an index scale.

Another important object is to provide adjusting means of the charactermentioned, including a housing for the adjusting mechanism on the 01.casing of the enclosed mechanism, the housing aiording support for apair of rotatable adjusti'ng elements adapted for manipulation toaccomplish the several adjustments of the mech-" anism within thecasing; a further object be- ;2 ing'to arrange the adjusting elementscompactly in concentric relationship Within the housing; a

, provide for relatively more diiiicult adjustment of theother elementas by the insertion of a turning tool through an opening formed in theWalls of said housing, While at the same time arranging the parts toexclude appreciable penetration Aof foreign matter through said openingand into the housing.

A still further object is to mount the adjusting-elements for rotation,the one on and the other .Withina sleeve secured in the housing; afurther obj-ect being to utilize the sleeve to anchor thev housing andthe adjusting elements thereinrupon the `casing containing themechanismfto-be adjusted.

'MAL further object: is to provide for driving connectiong-of theadjustingfelements with the. mechassignor to Chicago, Ill., a corpora-1938, Serial anism of the instrument Within the casing in a mannersubstantially excluding penetration of foreign matter to said mechanism.

Another important veying instrument forming an extremely neat, compact,simple, useassembly for the required ad- 35 from the followingVdescription, connectionV with the accompanying drawing, discloses apreferred embodiment of the invention. Referring tothe drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation, in perspective, of

a surveying instrument, namely, a transit, fitted 4,5:

substantially alongf the lined-4. in Figure 3; 55

which, taken in 40v although it will be obvious that the features ofdownwardly of the lower surface of operable `knob 49 50l the inventionare not restricted to transits.

The illustrated instrument, however, comprises a telescope tiltablysupported in a mounting frame |3 as by means of the support axle |5, theframe |3 comprising a pairof spaced uprights |1 by and between whichthetelescope'and its supporting axle extend. The axle and one of thespaced supports |1 carry cooperating scale means I9 for indicating thetiltedposition'ofthe telescope, which may be precisely adjusted by meansof the tangent clamp 2| carried on and adapted to be clamped on the axleby means of the manually operable clamp-controlling knob 23. The clamp2| also has tangent adjusting means controlled by the knob 25 andoperatively associated with a bracket 21 carried on one of the uprights|1 for the accurate adjustment of the angle of inclination of thetelescope in its mounting frame.

The mounting frame |3 comprises a plate 3| which carries the supports l1in spaced relationship thereon, and this plate 3| in turn is carried ona spindle 33 secured on the plate in any suitable or convenient fashion,as by means of the fastening screws 35, the spindle 33 extending theplate in axial alignment with the center thereof. The spindle 33 -isrotatably mounted in a support frame comprising a sleeve journal 31which in turn is journalled in a bearing forming a partof a levelingframe 39. The leveling frame in turn is supported adjustably on a baseplate 9| by means of a preferably socketed bearing 43 and a plurality ofleveling screws l5 disposed in spaced relationship around the bearingd3.

Provision is made for turning and securing the spindle in a desiredangular relationship with respect to the leveling base 39. For thispurpose the sleeve 31 is formed with a clamp seatl upon which is fitteda clamp 4K1, includingfa manually forsecuring the clamp upon the sleeve31. The clamp also carries tangent adjusting means in position tocooperate'with a pin 5| on the plate 3| and havinggan adjusting knob 53to accurately turn the plate and the spindle with respect tothe sleeveafter the clamp d1 has been secured thereon.

The sleeve 31 also is freely turnable in the journal provided by theleveling plate 39, and an additional clamp Ymay be provided having aportion adapted to be secured upon a suitable seat formed on the sleeve31 by manipulation of the knob 55. This additional clamp may havetangent adjusting means 51 cooperatively associated with a pin carriedin an extension 59 on the leveling plate, the pin being similar to thepin 5|. l f

My present invention is notl -necessarily restricted to the particularform or arrangement of the clamps or thetangent adjusting means, andtheoperable portions of the tangent adjusting means may equally well belocated on the frames 3| and 39 with the cooperating pins correspondingto the pins 5i I do not herein '.claim..thedetails of the clamp sincethe same 'form the Isubjectj--m'atter `of. mycofixed on theclarnplelements.

pending application, Serial No. 202,426, filed the 16th day of April,1938.

The frame comprising the journal 31, however, may be formed in its upperportions with an annular seat 5| for receiving the central portions ofan annular cover plate member 63, radially extending adjusting screws 35being arranged adjacent said seat for accurately centering the coverplate member B3 with respect to the sleeve 31.

The marginal portions of the cover plate member G3 are flanged andperipherally grooved, as at B1, to receive a packing 69 in position topress upon a downwardly-turned, annular portion forming a rim 1| at theedge of the plate 3|. This rim 1| is preferably smoothly finished toslidingly receive the packing 69 which thus seals the annular openingbetween the cooperating edges of the plates 3| and 63, thus preventingthe entrance of foreign matter between the edges of the plates andkeeping the under side of the plate 3| within the rim 1| substantiallyfree of dirt and moisture.

In the illustrated embodiment, a compass 13 is mounted on and carried bythe plate 3|. This compass comprises an indicator or pointer element 15preferably comprising a metallic strip extending oppositely from abearing 11, and an annular compass element comprising an index ring 19suitably graduated to indicate the deflection of the pointer.

The pointer element 15 and the ring element 19 are housed within acasing, the bottom of which preferably comprises the central portions ofthe plate 3|. The plate 3| is formed with an upstanding annular wall 8|which forms the sides of a compass case, the inner surfaces of the wallbeing smoothly finished to snugly receive the ring 19 which ispreferably of inverted U-shaped sectional configuration, having thebottom of the ring beveled as at 83, to form an upwardly-facing,inclined, scale-carrying surface. The oppositely facing inner and `outersurfaces of the ring 19 are preferably smoothly finished, the outersurface making a snug sliding fit within the annular wall 8|, so thatthe opposed ends of the pointer 15 may swing closely adjacent the inneredge of the inclined, scale-carrying surface 83. The upper, outersurfaces of the wall 8| may be and preferably are threaded to receive anannular coverr85 which is fitted 81 of material, such as and scale ring19 may this pane.

Means is provided indicator 15 in its casing, such support means in theillustrated embodiment comprising a pintle 89 mounted preferably withits axis in alignment with the axis of the spindle 33 which carries theplate 3|. Thisk mounting may be conveniently effectedy by threading thepintle elementv in the upper end of the spindle which preferably has aportion threaded into and secured in a central opening formed in theplate 3|, so that the upper end of the spindle 33 is exposed upwardly atthe center of the plate 3| within the compass casing.

In an instrument of this character, it is desirable to provide means forlifting the indicator 15 from` its carrying pintle when the instrumentis not in use as a direction indicator. 1t is also necessary to providefor adjusting the scale ring T9 by turning the same within the compasscasing, vand I have provided improved means for accomplishing theseadjustments from outside of the casing, without, however, opening thesame with a transparent pane glass, so that the pointer be clearlyviewed through for pivotally mounting the g portion 95 and the indicatoru ing openings that by depressing the or permiting access into 'thecasing .of moisture, dirt or' other foreign matter that might have adeleterious effect upon the scale ring and pointer. To this end, Iprovide an indicator lifting lever 9| comprising a preferably metallicstrip having. preferably the sectional configuration illustrated in.Figure 5 of the drawing, in the interests of rigidity, and having, also,an annular indicatorelevating portion 93 in position encircling thepintle 89, said portion 93 being adapted to remain in. depressedposition on the pintle, permitting the indicator to pivot thereon whenthe compass is in use, and to be projected upwardly with respect to thepintle to engage the indicator bearing 11 and raise the same fromseating position on the pintle. To this end, the lever 9| extends fromthe indicator raising portion 93 radially outwardly along the bottom ofthe compass case, to an opening 95 in said bottom adr jacent the innersurface of the ring 19, at which point the lever is bent, as at 96, toprovide an offset portion 91 extending through the opening.

This offset portion extends preferably below the under side of the plate3| and has a bent end 99 extending below the plate and outwardly of thewall 8| of the compass casing. The bent portion of the lever 96, otallysupported by and on the shoulder 0| formed by the inner edge of theopening 95, so end 99 of the lever, the indicator raising portion 93 maybe elevated within the compass casing. By releasing the end 99, theweight of the lever between the fulcrum lifting portion 93 will causethe lever to drop and rest upon the bottom of the compass casing.

The opening 95 is preferably made as small as possible, of a size merelysuicient to freely permit the assembly of the lever therein. It will benoted, however, that entrance of foreign matter side of the plate 3|,includingthe opening 95 and the portions of the lever which extend belowthe plate. Penetration of foreign matter into the enclosure is preventedby the gasket 69 which seals the peripheral edges of the plates 3| and63, while penetration of foreign matter into said enl closure throughthe central opening of the plate 63 is prevented by adequate sealingmeans incorporated in the tangent adjusting clamps 41 and 50. If desiredto increase the sealing effect, suitable packing may be placed in theWeight-reduc- |03 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are arranged inthe clamp seat forming portion of the sleeve 31.

In order to adjustably turn the scale ring 19 Within the compass casing,I form the outer periphery of the ring with rack teeth |05. The groovesdefining these teeth extend only in the lower portions of the ring, theupper portions being substantially continuous, as shown at |01, andsnugly engaging the inner surface of the compass casing 9|. Opposite therack teeth |05 the wall 9| of the compass casing is formed with anopening |09 adjacent the upper surface of the plate 3| This opening isof a size sufficient merely to accommodate driving means for said ringelement 19, said driving means comprising, in the illustratedembodiment, a portion of the circumference of a gear connected on aturnable driving element which is rotatably mounted outwardly of thewall 8|. By turning the gear its driving connection with the scale ring19 maybe utilized to adjustably turn the ring within the compass:casing.

While the opening4 09 is merely sufficientl to accommodate the ringdriving means comprising a portion of the rim of the gear, I provide ahousing I3` outwardly of the compass casing and cooperatively associatedtherewith to enclose the turnable driving. element, of which the gearcomprises a part, and to form a substantially` sealed closure preventingentrance of foreign matter into the compass casing through the opening|09. This housing is formed preferably inis preferably integrallyinterconnected with the lower ends of the upright instrument support |1.This ringis of a size to snugly embrace the wall 8| and may be anchoredin any suitable fashion on the plate 3| inY order to secure the uprights|1, as well as the housing 3, in place on the plate 3|. The ring ||5,when applied in position, locates the housing ||3 opposite the opening|09, the housing having edges snugly engaging the outer surfaces of thewall 8|, nevertheless, allowing for the application of the cover 85 uponthe threated portions of the wall 8|.

The housing provides chamber in which is rotatably received andsupwithin the housing above the gear which preferably rests upon afinished seat ||9 formed in the plate 3| outwardly of the wall 8|opposite the opening |09. 'Ihe rotatable driving element, including thegear and the extension |1, is preferably journalled within the housingon a bearing member |2| comprising a sleeve, the lower end of which isfastened in the plate 3| preferably by threadingV the same in place, asshown at |23.

'I'he sleeve |2| extends through an the top of the housing ||3 andflanged, as at |25, to tightly clamp the housing 3 upon the seat ||9,thereby holding the gear in place. The housing ||1 in its wallsvopposite pass casing is preferably provided opening upon thecircumference drical gear extension ||1 which is provided with aplurality of radially extending openings or sockets |29l opposite theslot |21, soV that, by inserting a turning instrument in the slot andinto the sockets ||3, the gear ||9 may be turned upon the support |2|,to thereby adjust the ring 19 within the compass casing.

It will be noted, however, that the extension ||1 is snugly receivedwithin the housing portion that contains the slot |21, so thatlpenetration of foreign matter through the casing ||3 from the opening|21 to the slot |09 is substanopening in is preferably with a slot |21of the cylinthrough the top opening which receives the sleeve element|2| is prevented by the clamping contact of the flange |25 with the top`of the casing at said opening. l

The operating end of the lever 9| is disposed below the plate 3|immediately under the end of the sleeve that is secured in the plate, asat 23. The sleeve |2| provides a channel for receiving a stem |3|extending at one end outwardly of the sleeve Vabove thel housing ||3 andcarrying a handle or knob |33 to facilitate manipulation thereof.

The Vopposite endV of the stem is arranged to.

so that the element |2| serves from the com.-`

project outwardly of the lower end of the sleeve below the plate 3| inposition to operatively engage the operating end of the lever 9|, sothat, by shifting the stem |3I axially within the sleeve |2|, the levermay be actuated in order to raise or lower the pointer 15 on the pivot89.

I prefer to form the stem |3| for threaded engagement in the sleeve |2|so that the stem may be moved axially within the sleeve in response to aturning movement applied to the knob or head |33. The threadedconnection moreover tends to prevent the entrance of dirt through thesleeve |2| and into the chamber below the plate 3| in which theoperating end of the lever 9| extends.

It will be noted that this chamber is sealed at its edges by means ofthe gasket 69 in order to prevent the entrance oi foreign matter intothe chamber and thence into the compass casing through the lever opening95.

As an additional means for excluding foreign matter from entering thechamber through the sleeve |2I, the sleeve is provided with anupstanding collar |35 surrounding the stem at its point of emergencefrom vthe sleeve, and the knob |33 is formed with a dependent rim |31adapted to snugly engage the outer surfaces of the collar |35; and asuitable felt packing |39 may be disposed within thev collar |35 snuglyabout the stem I3l, ii desired.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a neat,compact, slightly and efficient adjusting mechanism for enclosedapparatus requiring adjustment. The mechanism not only combines meansfor accomplishing a plurality of adjustments in a single assembly, butinsures against the accidental displacement of an accurately calibratedpart, namely, the ring 19, by substantially 'entirely enclosing theadjusting element ||1 and providing for the movement thereof only by theinsertion of an adjusting tool through the slot |21. Thus, theadjustment of the element 19 may only me accomplished intentionally,thereby eliminating accidental displacement of the element from adjustedposition. At the same time, the pointer conditioning control, which inno sense requires accurate manipulation, is accomplished by means of thereadily accessible knob |33 so that the compass conditioningmanipulation may be accomplished rapidly and with a minimum of eiort.

The outer surfaces provided with a substantially spherical configurationwhich is continued in the outer surfaces of the exposed portions of thesleeve |2| and also in the substantially tear-drop shape of the knob|33, thus providing an extremely attractive appearance. Y

It is thought that the inventionY and numerous of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacriiicing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A surveying instrument comprising a frame, a support plate rotatableon and overlying said frame, means on said frame andy cooperativelyassociated with said plate for enclosing a space beneath said plate toform a substantially sealed chamber, there being -an openingA insaidplate of the casing |33 also are communicating with said chamber, meansforming. a compass case onand extending above said plate, a pointerrotatably supported on a pivot within said case, a pointer controllingmeans extending through a hole in said plate between said compass caseand said chamber, and having a pointer controlling portion .within saidcompass case and an actuating portion extending through said hole tosaid sealed chamber, actuating means extending through said wall openingand drivingly associated with said actuating portion in said sealedchamber, said actuating means being op-Y erable outwardly of saidchamber and case to move the pointer control portion in said case anddust-excluding means cooperatively associated with said actuating meansat said wall opening to exclude entrance of foreign matter into saidchamber through the opening.

2. A surveying instrument comprising a frame, a support plate rotatableon and overlying said frame, means on said frame and cooperativelyassociated with said plate for enclosing a space beneath said plate toform a substantially sealed chamber, means forming a compass case on andextending above said plate, a pointer rotatably supported on a pivotwithin said case, pointer control means having a pointer actuatingportion'extending within said case and cooperatively associated withsaid pointer to raise thesame from its pivot and another portionextending within said sealed chamber and shiitable therein to move thepointer actuating means in said case, a sleeve on said plate and openinginto said chamber adjacent the said portion of the pointer control meanstherein, said sleeve extending outwardly of said chamber, a stem axiallyshiitable in said sleeve and having portions in position to drivinglyengage with the pointer control means to shift the same in said chamberand case and other portions extending outwardly of the free end of thesleeve and provided with manually operable means for shifting the stemin the sleeve for the actuation of the pointer control means, saidmanually operable means comprising a knob or head having an annularskirt formed for interfitting relationship with the free end of thesleeve to exclude foreign matter from entering the chamber through thesleeve.

3. A surveying instrument comprising a frame, a support plate rotatableon and overlying said frame, means on said frame and cooperativelyassociated With said plate for enclosing a space be'- neath said plateto form a substantially sealed chamber, means forming a compass case onand extending above said plate, a pointer rotatably supported on a pivotwithin said case, pointer control means having a pointer actuatingportion extending within said case and cooperatively associated withsaid pointer to raise the same from its pivot and another portionextending Within said sealed chamber and shiftable therein to move thepointer actuating means in said case, a sleeve on said plate and openinginto said chamber adjacent the said portion of the pointer control meanstherein, said sleeve extending outwardly of said chamber, a stem axiallyshiftable in said sleeve and having portions in position to drivinglyengage with the pointer control means to shift the same in said chamberand case and other portions extending outwardly of the free end of thesleeve and provided with manually operable means for shifting the stemin the sleeve forrthe actuation of the pointer control means, saidsleeve forming a journal, a rotatable element journalled on said sleeveoutwardly of said compass case, means extending in an opening in saidcase and drivingly connecting said rotatable element with an adjustablecompass element within the case,and a housing enclosingsaid rotatableelement and sealing said case around the opening therein.

4. A surveying instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said housingcomprises a shell having an open bottom adapted to seat on said plateadjacent the compass case and an open side outer surfaces of the casearound the opening therein, and wherein said sleeve is removablyconnected on said plate and is formed With a shoulder for clamping thehousing in position to enclose the rotatable element and to seal theopening through which it is drivingly connected with the adjustablecompass element.

5. A surveying instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said housinghas a slot in the walls thereof opening upon the peripheral surfaces ofsaid rotatable element, said element having peripherally opening socketsopposite said slot whereby the element may be turned by insertion of aturning implement through said slot.

6. Adjusting means for a turnable element enclosed in a case having aWall formed with an opening, comprising a housing secured in positionengaging the outer side of said Wall at said opening, a turnable drivingelement mounted within said housing, and means extending in said openingand drivingly connecting the driving element with the turnable elementWithin said case,

opening sockets for the reception of a turning instrument insertedthrough said slot, said housing having a cylindrical cavity, and saidturnable adjusting element having cylindrical portions snugly tting saidcavity to seal the housing against penetration of foreign mattertherethrough from said slot to the lateral opening of the case9 7.Adjusting means for a turnable element enclosed in a case having a wallformed with an opening, comprising a housing secured in positionengaging the outer side of said wall at said opening, a sleeve extendingthrough said housing and serving to anchor the housing in place, aturnable adjusting element journalled on said sleeve within saidhousing, and means extending in said opening and drivingly connectingthe driving element with the turnable element within said case, means toturn said driving element on said sleeve from outwardly of said housing,and a stem axially movable drivingly connecting said element Within saidcase, said stem having portions exposed outwardly of said housing foroperating the stem to actuate said shiftable element.

8. Adjusting means comprising a sleeve, a stem axially movable in saidsleeve, a driving element journalled on said sleeve in coaxialrelationship with respect to said stem, means supported by said sleeveand forming a housing enclosing said driving element, and means todrivingly connect said stem and the driving element with separatedevices requiring adjustment.

9. Adjusting means as set forth in cla-im 8, said housing having a slotand said driving element having peripherally opening sockets alignedwith said slot for the reception of a turning tool whereby said drivingelement may be turned Within the housing only intentionally and notaccidentally, said stem having an end exposed outwardly of the housingand formed with a manually operable head, making adjustment thereofrelatively easy compared with the adjustment of the driving element.

10. Adjusting means as set forth in claim 8, wherein the sleeve is fixedon a supporting -base ADOLPH LANGSNER.

